Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-09-09
UPON THE BALL FIELD.
How the Clubs Stand for the Eigh-
teenth Week of the League
Pennant Race.
Chicagos Great Games with Detroit
Records Of League Pitchers and
Catchers.
[cH1oAeo coRREspoNpENoE.l

[cH1cAGo CORRESPONDENCE
The close Of the eighteenth week of the
League pennant race for 1887 finds the
Western clubs doing battle upon Eastern
grounds with their Eastern rivals.
The Detroit team still leads the
League clubs in the race, and the
Philadelphia team By splendid work
has passed Mike Kefly's neg in the strug-
gle for front place and is now close upon
the heels of the New York giants for third
place. 1t would surprise no one to see the
Phillies in third place and leading both
New York and Boston before another
week passes.
The Chicago team closed it's third home
season last week upon the Chicago grounds
in the final games of the series begun on
Saturday, the 18th inst, with Detroit, and
it is needless to say that these games will
exist for many day to come in the recol-
lection of all who witnessed them. In
team work, in brilliancy of fielding, in
wonderful spurts Of batting, in base-run-
ming, in splendid pitching, in individual
and collective playing, the work of these
two teams was something which the most
gifted pen could but family outline, how
battle of the giants from first to last, and
in attempting to give just credit to those of
the players who most deserve it one is
puzzled where to begin. With but little
hesitation, however, it can safely be said
that OF the twenty or more PLAYERS who
participated in the three games, none did
nobler work than did John Clarkson.
such an exhibition Of pitching
skill as is seldom seen. Not only
did he show himself master of the
ball from the pitchers standpoint, but
without exaggeration it may be said that if
it is possible for one man to win ball
game, Clarkson accomplished the feat in
the first game of the series with Detroit.
In his delivery upon that day he seemed
ent every strategy and popularity known in
the science of modern pitching, and being
familiar, through careful and systematic
study, with the batting peculiarities Of
every Detroit batsman who faced him, he
was wonderfully effective. It may safely
be said, brilliant as his record has been,
that Clarkson never covered his position in
such splendid form. He pulled down and
stopped balls from the bat that many a
man upon the lines of the diamond would
have hesitated before, and with the bat in
his hands he was tower of strength to his
team. He went in again Monday and
pitched another winning game, making al
most as brilliant record as upon the
Saturday before.
He went in again on Tuesday, and al
| fhn1yrI1 "a rifoho1 a..
go, Detroit won by lucky stroke of bat
ting and some really wonderful work in
the field. To show how determined De-
troit was to win the third and last game of
the series, little piece Of strategy upon
the part Of Getzein and Bennett-the De-
troit battery-may be cited. It was full OF
risk, aud might have lost them the game;
but, fortunately for Detroit. it was sue
cessfully accomplished, and saved the
game to them. 1t was in the eighth in
ming, with Pfeffer upon second base and
Sullivan upon third, when Williamson
came to bat. Three strikes had been called
upon Ed, who throughout the game seemed
wholly unable to gauge "Pretzel's" de-
most in the act Of sending the ball over
the plate again, Getz stopped and called
Bennett down the path toward him. The
two conversed for ten seconds in low tones,
Getzein the while glancing toward Sullivan
on third. Then they separated, and Get
zein, stepping back into the box, sent a
ball over the plate on q line with William
sons head. The next ball was to one side
of the plate and low down, with but little
speed. Nevertheless, it struck Benefits
hand squarely, bounded off about ten feet
to one side (the result of an Intentional
muf), and Sullivan started in from third.
Getz jumped toward the plate almost at
the same moment the ball left his hand,
and received the ball from Bennett, who
captured it with single bound, easily put
ting Sullivan out at the home base. Then
the Detroiters started in for their bench
and the White Stockings went to the field.
The nature of Bennett and Getzeins little
! consultation dawned upon the spectators,
and roar of mingled laughs and cheers
went up from the big crowd.
Since Chicagos departure for the East il
has not played the ball expected of it. OF
the four games commenced with Pitts
burgh, one was postponed by rain with the
Pittsburghs in the lead when game was
called, two were won by Pittsburgh and
one by Chicago. Detroit is playing much
too strong game just now for Chicago to
let down in its speed, even little bit.
The following table. showing the work
of the prominent League pitchers and
catchers up to Aug. 16, inclusive, is of in
terest:
=, Name. Won. Lost. Per cent
! Clarkson ACKNOWLEDGEMENT II 2.55
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